Flying a Light UAS Commercially
 

Hi all,

Probably not the right place to post this; though this is where I usually post so thought it best to stick it here:p

For work I'm weighing up the feasibility of buying a small drone for producing promotional videos at my firm. Obviously this is commercial use, and would also involve flying within 50m of people and property (we're a cladding & facades contractor and are looking to put video tours of finished projects, in some cases entire villages) on our website. We would also look to use it for checking defects on tower blocks after scaffold dismantle (below 400ft).

I understand it's not illegal to record the video (though I'm not sure what happens when someone objects to their face being on a website), it's the flying 'qualifications' and permissions I don't quite understand.

As the purpose is commercial and within 50m of people and property we're looking to apply to the CAA for permission and exemption.

From what I gather, I need:

• SRG1320 completed and approved for permission to fly drone commercially (Fee £112)
• Exemption for flying within 50m of people or property (I can't work out the costs of this, if it's £2,846 as per table 6 of the GA scheme of charges I'll give up on the whole idea now).
• Training? The cost of the BNUC-S course is approximately £1k. For a 1kg toy?! Will the CAA want this? I have a PPL(A) with a recently lapsed SEP rating and suspect the majority of the course will be stuff I already know. SRG1320 refers to the course but doesn't state compulsory - it also asks for statement of experience, which is compulsory - is my 100 hours SEP enough?
• (EC) 785/2004 insurance - I see the relevance of this. Any ideas of cost?

The cost of the drone is about £800. It won't be used every day, so if all the costs above come into fruition it's not feasible. Any help much appreciated!

Spookily just opened the copy of Aircraft Owner and Pilot (AOPA Magazine) that arrived today and there is an article "how to get a drone licence". Could be worth reading if you can get a copy.

Some of the costs mentioned include initial application £750, and same for the test. Also mentions aerial work permission sheet at £400.

Hopefully fees will be prohibitive enough to deter the irresponsible. Not that I only have self - preservation in mind :uhoh:

Initially if you are proving the concept for your business, the BMFA offer an insurance which may be relevant:

https://bmfa.org/Insurance/Data-Deve...tion-Insurance

With regard to the qualification, you wouldn't expect to fly a hot air balloon on a PPL A, so why would an air vehicle which is operated from the ground, is flown much closer to third parties and structures than a light aeroplane, and probably needs to have an autonomous 'return home' program uploaded to it, be appropriate to a PPL A? Sure there will certainly be areas in which the syllabus is similar, but there is a heck of a lot which won't be.

Are you sure about that? Ask yourself if it really is commercial use.
The definition of commercial use is if you are receiving valuable consideration (money) in return for the purpose of the flight. Or if the end result is shown on advertised video channels (Youtube etc).

It could be that if you are only using it for your own business use and no one else is paying to see the footage then you may not need to get any permission from the CAA. It would be considered as non commercial.

You will definitely be operating commercially so you do need to get the qualifications.
Read this, it lays out pretty much everything you need to know.
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP%207...rch%202015.pdf
Look at chapter 4 regarding competency requirements. PPL experience does count and you may be able to miss the normal ground school element and only do the flight test.
Talk to the guys at Resource Group about courses, they are the most professional company in the UK.Unmanned Aviation Services Training | Resource Group
For insurance, talk to https://www.johnheath.com/business-i...uav-insurance/
Operating in congested areas opens up a whole new can of worms and is best left to the professionals.
For small jobs its worth finding a local qualified operator and using them may well work out cheaper.

You refer to a Light UAS, is that what you really mean? As per CAP 722 a Light UAS is one with mass (excluding fuel) 20+ -150KG.

If you intend using something 20KG and less, it is a Small Unmanned Aircraft (as per CAP 722) and the advice given on previous posts is good. If it is 20+KG you will get into the issues of design/build quality and will need to employ the services of a National Qualified Entity (NQE) recognised by the CAA to review the design/build quality and make appropriate recommendations as to whether the aircraft is fit for purpose prior to the CAA issuing any Permission or Exemption.

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP%207...rch%202015.pdf

As one involved in the SmallUAS industry for several years now I can assure you that what is proposed is not 'research' or 'test' flying. It is work undertaken for a straight commercial purpose. So you do require a CAA permission for aerial work.
It is an expensive process just to get an £800 multirotor in the air and operate commercially.
There are a lots of people who have paid to get the 'ticket' and found actually making it pay is really hard work. They are always on the lookout for regular business and would welcome jobs like this, especially if they are local. I'd suggest trying to find one. Just Google ... drone operator yorkshire.
At the very least it will give you an insight into what can be achieved.

A promotional video is only "commercial" if money is being paid to see it.

Putting up an in-house movie and showing it for free on one's own business website is hardly commercial. IMO

The important terms are aerial work and valuable consideration rather than commercial.

Scratch that one then...

It's for a promotional video that would be hosted on the website and would be pushed to potential clients.

I don't get where the £400 fee comes from for the CAA - the schedule looked pretty clear to me.

Insurance = understandable. Perhaps a day of familiarisation with a controller and a drone at a push. £15-£20 per hour.

Typical CAA bollocks. A 14 year old can attach whatever he wants (toffee bomb?) to a heavy 6ft balsa wood model flown with a scorching hot 16000rpm glow engine with 500ml of nitro-laced methanol behind it, all less gps, autopilot, any gyros, sensors or any fail-safe whatsoever and flying at up to 200mph with a 12 inch prop chopping away at any location, with nothing but a BMFA membership and a deep pocket and nobody would ever bat an eyelid...

Yet a little 1kg drone, geo-fenced from airports or from going above 400ft, flown pretty much autonomously at 5mph, less than 50m from the operator, once every couple of months for a quick video of buildings from the right perspective isn't allowed without paying through the nose for nonsensical training that no non-commercial user (who let's face it, there are more of at the moment, I wonder why) needs to do the same thing?

OH MY WORD.

Deep breath.

Rant over. Thanks for the replies, by the way. Much appreciated. Hopefully a decade from now, if and when I fly the real 'uns again, most of the red tape will have been challenged and some common sense will prevail.